Mexico Beach city council searches for new city administrator
MEXICO BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) – Mexico Beach City Council members have been trying to find a new city administrator after firing Chris Truitt on April 23.
Mexico Beach has hired five city administrators over the last three years. Three of those resigned and the last two were fired.
On Tuesday, council members met with retired city manager and volunteer senior advisor Mark Ryan to discuss their options.
Ryan presented several options, including internal recruitment, an executive search firm, or the senior advisor program.
Council members voted to hire an executive recruitment firm.
“They have a network of folks that they have dealt with in their recruitment. So they know some of the key players that are currently available. They also would reach out to some of their contacts and say, hey, here’s this great opportunity in Mexico Beach, take a look at this brochure that they will create for you and encourage folks to apply,” Ryan said.
Council members decided on Colin Baenziger & Associates, who recently found Titusville’s new city manager.
“I don’t want to criticize how we hired previous city administrators. I think they were the reasonable choices at the time. But I think it sounds like we’re all in agreement that we want to do something different. And so with the ability to work with this external search firm, we’ve all read their pocket. They seem not only companies, but we’re getting validation from outside sources that they’re a great firm to work with,” Mexico Beach City Council Member Erik Fosshage said.
They also believe it will expedite the hiring process.
“Mr. Ryan suggests that they could have this going to six weeks and that’s probably a negotiable thing. But I think speed is something that we want,” Fosshage said.
The city will hire Colin Baenziger & Associates for $32,500. Council members said they can shift the money from another part of the budget that won’t be affected.
Mell Smegielski is serving as the interim administrator until the city hires someone.
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